Apparatus for beveling printing plates



June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1951 Ell-F INVENTOR HARRY W. FAEBER oRiyEYs June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER 2,711,004

APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES Filed Jan. 17, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2. 72

ATTCRNEYS June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER 2,711,004

APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES Filed Jan. 17, 1951 8 S eeeeeeeee e1; 3

. FIG.3.

NNNNNN O R HARRY W. .FAEBER BY M ATT RNEY June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 17, 1951 INVENTOR HARRY W. FAEBER ATTORNE 5.

June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER 2,711,004

APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES Filed Jan. 17, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS.

' INVENTOR HARRY W FAEBER ATTORNEYS June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES R 6 RW v w EW w WY w m a A 8 H $4 76 N EYS.

ATT

Filed Jan. 17, 1951 June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. 17, 1951 N\\ R 1 Am5 Q0 wm um A? Q ne lNVENTOR HARRY w FAEBER June 21, 1955 H. w. FAEBER APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES EGE United States Patent ()fifice 2,711,004 Patented June 21, 1955 APPARATUS FOR BEVELING PRINTING PLATES Harry W. Faeber, Larclunont, N. Y., assignor to Time, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 17, 1951, Serial No. 206,451

8 Claims. (Cl. 29-21) The present invention relates to machines for trimming, beveling, or shaping printing plates and embodies more specifically an improved form of such machine, wherein printing plates may be manufactured to precise shapes and dimensions.

The invention relates more particularly to the manufacture of laminated printing plates which, because of their structure, are relatively rigid and not susceptible of being manipulated on the plate cylinders of printing presses. This is in contradistinction to the plates and processes heretofore used, wherein relief printing plates have been made according to the so-called electrotype process, as a result of which the printing plate is formed of a relatively thick plate of lead, on one face of which the relief printing areas are formed. In securing these plates to the plate cylinders of printing presses, the edges of the plates are beveled so that the plates may be secured, in curved position, upon the plate or printing cylinder in the desired position and by means of plate clamps that are adjustably secured on the plate cylinder to engage the beveled edges of the printing plate. In the conventional make-ready operation, these lead plates are positioned by the aforementioned lugs so that the printing areas thereof are positioned properly with respect to other areas of the same cylinder and also register properly to corresponding areas of other cylinders.

In using laminated plates of the type above referred to and where the plate structure is relatively rigid, the manipulation and adjustment of the plates on the plate cylinder is diflicult to accomplish except by shifting the position of the entire plate with respect to the plate cylinder. Its rigidity and strength prevent the plate structure itself from being slightly deformed or shaped on the printing cylinder to accomplish registering operations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine by means of which a printing plate may be shaped, beveled and cut to precise form and dimension in order that it may register accurately with related plates on the printing machine in order to accomplish satisfactory printing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character wherein the beveling or trimming operations may be accomplished automatically to a desired degree of precision permitting a degree of flexibility in such operations that the operator will be able to vary the nature of the beveling or similar operations in accordance with predetermined variations as prescribed by the printing operations from time to time.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a beveling machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, this view being taken to show the front and one end of the machine;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the front and other end of the machine;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view showing the rear of the machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating certain of the operating parts in perspective;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical section, taken on a plane passing through the forward portion of the housing and illustrating the operating parts of the machine;

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a partial view in front elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing the saddle and plate clamping mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a partial view in end elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing the drive mechanism at the right-hand end of the structure of Figure 6, and by means of which the saddle and plate are turned during the operation of beveling the ends thereof;

Figure 8 is a partial view in end elevation showing the left-hand end of the structure of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view showing the mechanism by means of which the register pins may be retracted during the beveling of the ends of the plates;

Figure 10 is a view somewhat diagrammatically illustrating the mechanism by means of which the end beveling cutters are properly positioned;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail view illustrating a portion of the indicating mechanism illustrated in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner in which the longitudinal edges of a plate are beveled by the machine of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12 showing the manner in which a longitudinal edge of a printing plate is cut to form a bleed page; and

Figure 14 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections and the fluid system by means of which the elements of the beveling machine, constructed in accordance with the present invention, are operated.

Referring to the above drawings, 20 indicates the base of a beveling machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, this base being formed as an enclosure within which certain mechanism to be described hereinafter is received. The base of the machine is formed with a front panel 21 and end panels 22 and 23. Suitable access doors 24 are provided in the front panel 21, and end panel 22 carries a hand wheel 25 for turning a worm shaft 26 by means of which the position of an end cutter or beveler 27 may be adjusted. A dial 28 is provided on the shaft 26 to facilitate accurate adjustment thereof in accordance with operations to be described presently.

End panel 23 is provided with a hand wheel 29 for turning the worm shaft 30 that serves to adjust the position of an end cutter or beveler 31 as will presently be described, a dial 32 being provided for the purpose stated in connection with dial 28.

The top of the base 20 is formed with a horizontal table surface 33 upon which a rotatable saddle 34 is journaled, the left-hand end of the saddle as viewed from the front of the machine being supported in a journal bracket 35, and the right-hand end being journaled in a bracket 36 (see Figure 6). A printing plate 37 (indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 6 and in solid lines in Figures 4, 8, and 10) is adapted to be received upon the saddle 34, being properly registered upon the saddle by means of register pins 38, and being secured in such registered position by means of side clamps 39 and end clamps 40.

The clamps 39 and 40 are pivoted upon slides 41, in the bottoms of which are formed T-shaped slide members 42 which are adapted to be received within T-shaped t are formed in the saddle.

pressed down securely against plate in order that the latter may be held effectwely upon the saddle during cutting operations. It will be apparent that the clamps are readily positioned, ad usted or removed from the saddle by manipulation of the hand screws 44 and by sliding the brackets 41, if desired, within the grooves 43.

In order that the register pins 38 may be retracted during the cutting or beveling of the ends of the plate, the mechanism shown in Figure 9 is provided. This mechanism includes a cam plate 45 that is formed with a cam groove 46. This cam is centered on shaft 34', but is fixedly attached to the pillow block 35. A cam follower roller 47, carried by a crank arm 48 that 1s fixedly mounted on a shaft 49 serves to actuate or retract the register pins 38 through a crank arm 50, also fixedly mounted on the shaft 49, that is provided with a bifurcated extremity 51, receiving a pin 52 that actuates a register pin shaft 53 carried in the saddle 34. The crank shaft 49 is journaled in the saddle 34. In this fashion, as the end bevelers reach the position of the register pins 38, the cam follower 7 engages a portion 54 of the cam track 46, and the register pins 38 are retracted into the saddle as the cutter passes over them.

It will be apparent that, prior to the cutting or beveling of the ends of the plate 37, the end clamps 40 are removed, and the side clamps 39 are secured in their clamping position, as illustrated in Figure 6, in order that the plate 37 may be secured effectively in the des1red cutting position, while the register pins 33 position the plate properly on the saddle 34.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the beveling operation involves the steps of first placing the plate 37 upon the saddle 34 with the register pins 33 engaging the register holes in the plate. The end clamps 40 are then secured in the position illustrated in Figure 6, and as will be presently explained, the longitudinal edges of the plate are beveled in succession. After the two longitudinal edges of the plate are beveled, the side clamps 39 are applied to the sides of the plate, and the clamps 40 removed. The saddle 34 is then rotated through 360 degrees during which rotation, the end beveling mechanisms presently to be described bevel the ends of the plate.

Side beveling mechanism In order to accomplish the precise beveling of the sides of the printing plate 37 carried upon the saddle 34, the shaft 34 of the saddle 34 is provided with a worm wheel 55 which is engaged and driven by a worm 56 carried by a sleeve 57 (Figure 7) that is fixedly keyed to a shaft 58. The sleeve 57 is formed with clutch teeth 57a and 57b, member 57a of which may be engaged by a clutch member 59 slidably but nonrotatably secured to a shaft 60 that carries a hand wheel 61. Clutch member 5712 may be engaged by a clutch 62 that is non-rotatably but slidably carried by the shaft 58. Clutches 59 and 62 are interlocked to prevent simultaneous engagement of each of them with the clutch members 57a and 57b, respectively, thus preventing the hand wheel 61 from being driven by the shaft 58. Shaft 58 receives power from a pulley 63 which, in turn, is driven by belt 64 (Figure running over a pulley 65, driven by a gear reduction mechanism 66 that is driven by an electric motor 67.

The position of the saddle 34 is indicated by means of a dial 6% and a supplemental dial 69. The dial 68 may be secured directly to the shaft 34, while the dial 69 may be driven through a gear reduction mechanism 7% from the shaft 34, as illustrated in Figure 6. When the dial 68 is in its zero position, the register pins are in longitudinal alignment with a cutter 71 (Figure 5) that is mounted on and driven by a motorized spindle 72. In practice, the beveling specifications are given in terms of distance from the register pin to the side of the bevel and, after properly mounting the plate on the saddle, the saddle is turned by the hand wheel 61 to position the plate and saddle properly in order that the cutting tool 71 may perform the desired cutting operation along one longitudinal side of the plate (as will be described hereinafter). After the first side or longitudinal edge of the plate is beveled, the hand wheel 61 is turned to position the saddle and plate with respect to the cutting wheel 71, so that the opposite edge of the plate is cut. As will be seen in Figure 12, the cutting wheel 71 is formed with two cutting surfaces. The periphery of the wheel is suitably beveled at 73 in order to cut or bevel the side of the plate, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 12. The side 74 of the wheel 71 is formed to cut the right-hand edge of the plate illustrated in solid lines (but in section) in Figure 12. In this fashion, the same cutting tool is utilized to bevel both longitudinal sides of the printing plate.

In order that the cutting tool 71 and motorized spindle 72 may be moved longitudinally during the cutting operation, the motorized spindle 72 is secured upon a platform 75 that is attached at 76 to a slidable head 77 that is slidable upon fixed ways 78 carried upon the horizontal table surface 33. The travel of the head 77 is controlled by a worm shaft 79 that is journaled in the mechanism 80 supporting the ways 78 and is driven through reduction gearing 31 by a reversible electric motor 82. Upon operation of the motor 82, the motorized spindle 72 is moved longitudinally along the ways 78, and the cutter 71 accomplishes its cutting operation. Reversal of the motor 82 restores the longitudinal cutting mechanism to its initial position, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The table '75 is positioned by means of an adjustable screw 83 and, by means of slotted sectors 84 and screws 85, the mechanism is maintained effectively in a desired cutting position.

If the side beveling operations are to involve the beveling of a printing plate for printing a bleed" page, the motorized spindle 72 is provided with a cutter 86, as illustrated in Figure 13. This cutter is utilized to cut the lefthand end of the plate to form a beveled undercut, as illustrated, the bevel being such as to permit the edge of the printing plate to be positioned in bleed relationship to adjacent plates. A soft metal insert 34" may be provided in the saddle 34, extending longitudinally of the length of the bleed page.

In order that the saddle 34 may be effectively secured in a desired position, a friction shoe 34a is fitted into a keyway cut in bearing 35. Screw 34b is threaded in the bearing 35, operated by a handle 34c, and is used to press shoe 34a against shaft 34'. This permits the shaft to be held frictionally in a desired position. A further mechanism to enable certain cutting operations to be set up and then repeatedly carried out comprises a movable block 34d upon which there is provided adjustable stops 34a and 34 These stops, as will be seen in Figures 7 and 8, are provided on opposite sides of the saddle and are adapted to be engaged by lugs 34g that are formed upon the saddle. In this fashion, when the mechanism has been properly set up by means of the end dials, as previously described, the stops are successively moved into engagement with the lugs 34g in each respective cutting position, so that thereafter all the operator need do is to use the stops on one side or the other of the saddle, depending upon which longitudinal cut is to be made. Inas much as the movable blocks 34d are slidably and pivotally mounted on guide rods 3411, the appropriate stop may be positioned to set the saddle in the desired position and, after the corresponding cutting operation has been completed, the block and stop may be moved into an inoperative position to permit the cutting operation to be accomplished on the opposite edge of the plate.

The end beveling mechanism As previously stated, the worm 56 is utilized, not only to index the saddle 34 properly in making the bevel cuts for the longitudinal edges of the plate, but is also utilized to rotate the saddle in order to accomplish the end beveling operations. In other words, in beveling the longitudinal sides of the plate, the cutting tool is moved with respect to the stationary saddle, whereas in the end beveling operations, the cutting tools, during their cutting operations, rotate upon fixed axes while the saddle and plate are turned through 180 degrees. In order to avoid the turning of the hand wheel 61 during the end beveling operations, an interlock 87 (indicated diagrammatically in Figure 7) is provided between the clutch members 59 and 62. This interlock is actuated manually by an arm 88.

As previously stated, the end beveling operations are performed by spaced cutter wheels 27 and 31, these cutter wheels being supported and driven by motorized spindles 89 and 90, respectively, which are secured to platforms 91 and 92, respectively. These platforms are pivoted at 93 (Figure to plates 94 and 95, respectively, which are adapted to slide upon guide ways 96, and gibs 97 retain the plates 94 and 95 in sliding relationship upon the ways, clamp 98 being provided to tighten the slides on the ways after the cutters have been moved to their desired positions.

The position of the platforms 91 and 92 with respect to the plates 94 and 95 may be adjusted by means of screws 99, slotted members 100 being provided to lock the platforms 91 and 92 in their adjusted positions.

The guide ways 96 are mounted upon a frame .101 that is pivoted about a shaft 102 cam plates 103 being provided at each end of the frame 101 to be engaged by cam rollers 104 that are carried by levers 105 pivoted about a fixed axis 106. Figure 5 shows frame 101 in the cutting or working position. Movement of the lever arms 105 from this position in a clockwise direction permits the frame 101 to pivot downwardly into a normally inoperative position. Then as the levers 105 are moved in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivots 106 (as viewed in Figure 5), the cam rollers 104 rise against the cam plates 103 until they reach adjustable stops 104a and lift the frame 101 back into the cutting position.

The movements of the lever arms 105 are effected by means of hydraulic mechanisms, including cylinders 107, the piston rods (not shown) of which are connected to levers secured to a rotatable pivot shaft 108. Crank arms 109 secured to the pivot shaft 108 are connected to the cam levers 105 by means of links 110. Upon lead screws 26 and 30 respectively, there are provided nuts 111 and 112 that are secured to the respective plates 94 and 95, in order that rotation of those respective lead screws will effect longitudinal movement of the respective cutting tools 27 and 31.

Proper positioning of the cutting tools 27 and 31 is accomplished by means of an indicator arm 113 (Fig ures 1, 2, 4, 10, and 11) and is carried by a sleeve 114-, slidably rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft 115. A set screw 116 permits the bushing 114 to be secured temporarily against rotation and sliding with respect to shaft 115. Collar 114a retains indicator arm 113 on sleeve 114, and spring 1141; urges the indicator arm 113 into the position shown in solid lines in Figure 11. Thus arm 113 will not interfere with plate 37 and/or saddle 34 as the saddle rotates.

In conventional operations, a color plate (that is, a plate formed to print one color of a multicolor image) is formed with a center mark. In the plate is a body plate (that is, a plate for printing an impression that is to be formed of one or two colors only), measurements in trimming the plate are taken from the head register pin. In the description herein given, it will be assumed that the plate that is being beveled is a color plate. Accordingly, the pointer 113 is moved into the position illustrated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 11 so that it registers correctly with the center mark on the plate that has been secured to the saddle 34. The set screw 116 is then tightened and the pointer 113 is allowed to swing downwardly into the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 11 (and also, in Figure 10) so that the pointer is opposite a two-directional scale 117 that is adjustably secured to table 33 by means of clamps 118. After the scale 117 has been adjusted so that its zero mark registers with the pointer 113, pointers 119 and 120, pivoted at 121 upon the respective motorized spindles 89 and (Figure 11), are moved along the scale 117 by turning the respective hand wheels 25 and 29 until the respective cutters 27 and 31 have been moved into such position that they will cut the end bevels of the plate in accordance with the desired dimensions. Figure 10 illustrates diagrammatically the manner in which the cutters 27 and 31 are so adjusted.

In performing the end beveling operations, the cutters 27 and 31 are first elevated to their cutting positions by means of the cam lever 105, and the saddle 34 is then rotated through 360 degrees by means of the belt drive 64, driven from the motor 67. As has previously been stated, the end clamps 40 have been removed and, as the register pins 38 approach the respective cutters, the portion 54 of the cam groove 46 actuates the roller 47 to retract the register pins into the saddle 34 in order that they do not interfere with the operation of the cutters.

Upon completion of the rotation of the saddle 34 through 360 degrees the motor 67 is de-energized in a manner to be described presently.

The fluid mechanism for elevating the end cutters As will be seen from Figures 4, 5, and 14, the pivoted frame 101 upon which the end cutting or beveling mechanisms are mounted is raised or lowered by means of actuation of the cylinders 107, as hereinabove described. Air is controllably introduced into these cylinders from a source of air indicated by the pipe and Valve 122 in Figure 14, an air filter 123 being provided in accordance with conventional practice. The air is led to a four-way valve 124 which is controlled by an electromagnet 125 and which furnishes air under pressure selectively to pipes 126 and 127. Pipe 126 supplies the air to control valves 127' and to the right-hand end of cylinders 107. At the same time, the air from the left-hand end of the cylinders 107 is exhausted through control valves 128 and pipe 127, four-way valve 124, and an exhaust muffler 129. The other position of the four-way valve 124 introduces air under pressure to the left-hand ends of the cylinders 107 through pipe 127 and connects the right-hand ends of such cylinders to the exhaust muffier 129 through the pipe 126 and control valve 124.

The electrical connections by means of which the beveling mechanism is controlled The electrical circuits and mechanisms for accomplishing the operations hereinabove described are illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 14. A source of electricity is indicated generally by the three-phase power supply 130 leading into a switch box containing a main control switch 131. From switch 131, the main power lines 132, 133, and 134 lead to contactors 135 (for lifting and operating the end beveling mechanisms) and 136 (for controlling the longitudinal or side cutting operations). A normally closed contactor 137 serves as an interlock, as will be presently described, and has its normally closed contacts in the wires 132, 133, and 134 leading to the contactor 136.

The contacts of contactor 136 connect the power supply wires 132, 133, and 134 to the respective wires 138, 139, and 140 that energize a reversing starter mechanism indicated in dotted outline at 141. This mechanism con trols the supply of current to the contacts that energize the motor 82 controlling the baek-and-forth movement of the slide upon which the upper cutter is mounted; As will be described presently, such mechanism permits the desired control, at all times, of the forward or reverse movement of the slide upon which the motorized spindle 72 of the upper cutter is mounted.

The motorized spindle S2 of the upper cutter is energized by a magnetic starter indicated at 142, this starter receiving current from the wires 132, 133, and 134 through Wires 143, 144, and 145, respectively. The motorized spindles 89 and 90 of the lower cutters are ener' gized by magnetic starters 146 and 147, respectively, these starters being connected to the wires 132, 133, and 134 by wires 148, 149, 150, and wires 148a, 149a, and 150a, respectively.

With respect to the mechanism for controlling the fluid system and the saddle spindle rotating mechanism, contactor energizes wires 151, 152, and 153 which are connected to contactor 154-, which, in turn, connects such wires, respectively, to wires 155, 156, and 157. These wires supply current to a reversing starter 158 that permits the motor 67 that rotates the saddle shaft to be driven in the forward or reverse directions or stopped in a manner presently to be described.

Referring now to the foregoing mechanism, and to the various cycles of operation, the upper cutter motorized spindle '72 is energized by depressing button 159. This closes the contacts of contactor 136 through wire 145, bridge 160, wire 161, the starting switch 159, wire 162, normally closed stop button 163, wire 164, normally closed emergency stop switch 165, wire 166, actuating coil 167 of contactor 136 and wire 168, to wire 144. At the same time, the magnetic starter 142 is energized from wire 166 through branch wire 169, energizing coil 170, overload relay 171, and wire 172 to the circuit w' e 144. As a result of the closing of the contacts of the magnetic starter 142, the upper cutter motorized spindle 72 is energized, and the cutter 73 rotates.

The operator next depresses the forward switch 173 for the reversing starter, causing current to fiow from wire through wire 174 and wire 175 and lower contacts of the forward switch, wires 176 and 177, actuating coil 178 of the reversing starter 141, wire 179, normally closed upper contacts of stop switch 180, and wire 181 to the power line wire 139. In this fashion, the forward contactor of the reversing starter 141 closes and holding a current is established through the actuating coil 178 by the upper contacts of the right-hand stop limit switch 182, the current flowing from wire 174 through such contacts, wire 183, the upper normally closed contacts of manually reversing switch 184, wire 185, the normally closed upper contacts of left-hand reverse limit switch 186, wire 187, right-hand contacts of the forward contactor of the reversing starter and coil 178, and onto the power line 139, in the manner previously described.

It will be observed that the right-hand stop limit switch 182 is actuated by a cam plate 138 that is carried by the carriage 77. As soon as the carriage moves to the left, as viewed in Figure 14, the right-hand stop limit switch is permitted to move to its normal position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 14, in which position the upper contacts are closed. While the carriage is in any position between the reverse limit switch 186 and the stop limit switch 182, the forward contactor is being held in its closed position by the current flowing through its coil 178. Interruption of this current and the opening of the forward contactor can be accomplished in two ways, viz., by depressing the stop button which opens the circuit between wires 179 and 181, or by depressing the reverse switch 184. If the reverse switch is depressed, the reverse contactor is energized by current from wire 174, upper contacts of stop limit switch 182, wire 183, wire 189, upper contacts of the forward button 173, wire 190, lower contacts of reverse button 184, wires 191 and 192, actuating coil 193 of the reverse contactor, and wires 179 and 181, as previously described.

During normal operation, the carriage will move to its predetermined limit, as determined by any suitable operating mechanism 77, at which time the reverse limit switch 186 is actuated to open its upper contacts and close the lower contacts thereof. The current thus flows from wire 174 and upper contacts of stop limit switch 182 through wire 183, wire 189, and forward switch 173, wires 135' and lower contacts of reverse limit switch 186 to wire 192, and on to energize the coil 193 as previously described. In this fashion, the forward contactor is opened and the reverse contactor closed to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 82 and cause the slide 77 to return to its normal position at the right, as illustrated in Figure 14. Should, for any reason, the motor 82 not reverse, its continued travel will cause the slide 77 to actuate the emergency stop switch 165, opening those contacts and thus disconnecting the electrical circuits controlling the rotation and travel of the upper cutter.

When the carriage 77 upon which the upper cutter motor 82 is mounted is in its normal right hand position, as illustrated in Figure 14, the lower contacts of stop limit switch 182 are closed, thus permitting the actuating coils of the magnetic starters for the motors 89 and 90 to be energized as follows. When starting switch 194 is closed, current flows from wire 150, across bridge 195 of the contactor 146 through wire 196 to the contacts of the starting switch, wire 197 and the normally closed contacts of a stop switch 198, wires 199 and 200 to actuating coil 201 of magnetic starter 146, wires 202 and 203 to the normally closed lower contacts of stop limit switch 182, wires 204 and 205 to wire 149. Current also flows through wires 206 and 207 to the actuating coil 208 of magnetic starter 147 and wire 209 to wire 203, returning through wire 204 to a wire 210 to wire 149a. In this fashion, both magnetic starters 146 and 147 are closed to energize the motors 89 and 90. When the operator releases the start button 194, coils 201 and 208 continue to receive holding current through the fourth (bottom) contacts of contactors 146 and 147, respectively, until stop button 198 is depressed. It is to be noted that if the upper carriage is in its operative position, the foregoing circuits prevent the lower cutters from being energized so that accidental injury to the mechanism is thus avoided.

When the two lower cutters are rotating, as above described, the interlock contactor 137 is energized by virtue of the fact that current from the line 199 (derived initially from the power line 150) flows through a wire 211, coil 212, and wire 213 to the power line 133. Energization of this contactor opens the entire circuit to the upper cutter, and thus prevents actuation of this cutter during the operation of the lower cutter mechanism.

The pivoted carriage 101 upon which the lower cutters are mounted is elevated into its cutting position by depressing momentary contact normally open button 214 which causes current to flow from power line 157 through wires 215 and 216, the bottom contacts of a safety limit switch 217, wire 218 and starting button 214, coil 219 of a relay 220, wire 221 and normally closed contacts of a down switch 222 to a wire 223 and power line 155. Energizing the coil 219 closes the contacts of relay 220 to energize the electromagnet 125 by a flow of current through wires 224 and 225, contacts of relay 220 and wire 226. Actuation of the electromagnet 125 causes fluid under pressure to flow through the conduit 127 and to the left-hand end of cylinders 107. This causes the carriage 101 to be elevated in the manner previously described.

it is to be observed that the closing of the contactor 154 is controlled by a limit switch 227, the power for closing the contactor flowing from wire 153 through a wire 223 and actuating coil 229, wire 230 and contacts of limit switch 227 and a wire 231 back to the power line 152. The limit switch 227 is actuated by the manual clutch mechanism 87, 88 so that, when the clutch 59 is in engagement with the sleeve 57, the limit switch 227 is open, thus preventing accidental power operation of the carriage 101 and the motor 67 while the hand wheel 61 is connected to rotate the saddle.

Referring to Figures 6 and 8, a 180 degree cam 252 is provided on the saddle shaft to actuate the lower cutter safety switch 217, thus preventing the lifting of the lower cutters when the saddle and plate carried thereby are in a position where the saddle and plate have been moved suificiently far away from the top position illustrated in Figure 8. In this fashion it is impossible to raise the lower cutters while operations are performed such as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, or while the plate is passing through the lower 180 degrees as the saddle is rotated in preparation to the end beveling operation. This prevents accidental jamming of the cutters into the plate. When, however, the end beveling operations are begun in the manner above mentioned, the opening of the safety limit switch 217 upon movement of the saddle sufiiciently far from the top position does not interfere with the operation of the electromagnet 125 because the coil 219 of the relay 220 is held in its energized position from current passing through wire 223, switch 222, wire 221, relay coil 219, wire 233, upper contacts of the relay 220, wires 224 and 215, and wire 157.

Referring again to Figure 14, the reverse starter 158 is provided with a forward contactor 234 and a reverse contactor 235. The operation of the motor 67 (which rotates the saddle 34) is accomplished by means of a forward switch 236 that receives current from the power line 157 through a wire 237. When the momentary contact forward switch 236 is depressed, its bottom contacts connect the wire 237 with a wire 238 and through a wire 239 energize the actuating coil 240 of the forward contactor 234. The circuit is completed through a wire 241, the upper contacts of stop switch 242, wire 243 and thus to power line 156. Actuation of the forward contactor 234 energizes the motor 67 to begin the rotation of the saddle through 360 degrees.

If, for any reason, it is desired to stop the rotation of the saddle, the stop switch 242 is depressed, thus breaking the circuit above described and de-energizing the motor 67. If it is desired to reverse the direction of the rotation of the motor 67, a reverse switch 244 is depressed, causing the lower contacts of that switch to be closed and supplying power to the reverse contactor 235 from wire 237 to a wire 245 and the contacts of a stop limit switch 246, wires 247 and 248, upper contacts of forward switch 236, wire 249, W- er contacts of reverse switch 244, wires 250 and 251, actuating coil 252 of the reverse contactor 235 and wire 241 to the wire 243 and power line as previously described. Actuation of the reverse contactor 235 reverses the rotation of the motor 67 and returns the saddle to the normal position illustrated in Figure 8. The stop limit switch 246 is actuated by a cam 253 when the saddle is in the position illustrated in Figure 8, this being the normal inoperative position from which all operations begin. In this fashion, whether the saddle turns continuously from its normal position through 360 degrees, or turns through a portion of that travel and then returns to its original position, it will always be brought to rest in the position shown in Figure 8 by means of the cam lobe 253.

After the end beveling operation is completed, the down button 222 is depressed, opening its contacts and de-energizing the electromagnet 125, at which time the fluid system causes the pistons in the cylinders 107 to be moved to the left, as viewed in Figure 14, thus causing the platform 101 to be moved into its normally retracted lower position.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for beveling printing plates, comprising a bed member, a saddle mounted on the bed member to receive a printing plate thereon, register pins on the saddle, a first beveling tool supported on said bed member for movement longitudinally of said saddle, means to move the first tool longitudinally of the saddle to bevel one edge of said plate, manually operated means to rotate said saddle to bring the opposite edge of said plate adjacent to said first beveling tool to be beveled thereby, a second beveling tool mounted on the bed member, means to move the second beveling tool into operative and inoperative positions, power-actuated means to rotate the saddle relative to said second tool to bevel an end of said plate, and means to prevent movement of the second tool into operative position upon rotation of the saddle from a normal indexing position.

2. Apparatus for beveling printing plates, comprising a bed member, an at least partially cylindrical saddle mounted on said bed member for rotation about its axis, means to mount a printing plate on said saddle, a carriage mounted on said bed member for movement parallel with the axis of the saddle, a power-actuated beveling tool mounted on said carriage, means to rotate 'said saddle to position opposite edges of said printing plate successively adjacent to said beveling tool, means to move said carriage relative to said saddle to bevel the adjacent edge of said printing plate, means to indicate the rotated position of said saddle to enable said opposite edges to be beveled in predetermined relation to a reference point on said plate, at least one poweractuated bevel cutting tool mounted on said bed member for movement toward and away from said saddle and adjustable lengthwise thereof, power-actuated means for moving the last-mentioned cutting tool toward said saddle into cutting relation to said plate, and power-actuated means to rotate said saddle relative to said bevel cutting tool to bevel an end of the plate.

3. Apparatus for beveling printing plates, comprising a bed member, a saddle having an at least partially cylindrical surface mounted on said bed member for rotation about its axis, registering pins mounted slidably in said saddle for movement between a position projecting from said cylindrical surface and a position within said saddle, said pins being engageable in openings in a printing plate to position it on said cylindrical surface, a pair of power-actuated bevel cutting tools mounted on said bed member for movement into cutting relation to said plate and into an inoperative position, means to rotate said saddle to engage said plate with said bevel cutting tools to trim and bevel the ends of said plate, means responsive to rotation of said saddle to retract said pins as they move with said saddle adjacent to said bevel cutting tools and project them in other positions of said saddle, and means to clamp said plate to said saddle to hold it in position thereon while said pins are retracted.

4. Apparatus for beveling printing plates, comprising a bed member, a saddle having a curved surface mounted on said bed member for rotation about the axis of said curved surface, drive gears for rotating said saddle about its axis, a manually actuated member, a power-driven member, clutch means for selectively connecting said manually actuated member and said power-driven member to said drive gears, to rotate said saddle, register pins on said saddle to position a printing plate on said saddle, and a power-actuated beveling tool mounted on said bed member for movement parallel with the axis of said saddle to engage and successively bevel the opposite edges of said plate.

5. Apparatus for beveling printing plates comprising a bed member, a saddle having a curved surface mounted on said bed member for rotation about the axis of said curved surface, a power-actuated beveling tool mounted on said bed member for movement parallel with the axis of said saddle to engage and successively bevel the opposite edges of said plate, means to rotate said saddle to align opposite edge portions of said plate successively with said tool, an indicator connected to and movable with said saddle having an indicium thereon to indicate when the beveling tool is in alignment with the center of said plate and a scale to indicate the angle of rotation of said saddle with respect to said beveling tool to enable both edges of said plate to be beveled by the beveling tool in predetermined relation to the center of said plate.

6. Apparatus for beveling printing plates comprising a bed member, a saddle having a cylindrical surface portion to receive a printing plate, means supporting said saddle for rotation about the axis of said cylindrical surface portion, means to rotate said saddle, a pair of power-actuated tools mounted on said bed member for adjustment lengthwise of said saddle for cutting beveled ends on said plate, a pointer mounted on said bed member for adjustment into alignment with the center of said plate, a scale mounted on said bed member for adjustment relative to said pointer to center the scale with respect to the center of the plate, pointers in alignment with said tools and cooperating with said scale to indicate the spacing of the tools from the center of the scale, and means to adjust said tools and pointers in alignment therewith relative to the saddle and scale.

7. Apparatus for beveling printing plates comprising a bed member, a saddle mounted on the bed member to receive a printing plate thereon, register pins on the saddle, a beveling tool carried by the bed member, means for rotating the tool, means for moving the tool toward said saddle into an operative position for cutting a bevel on said plate and away from said saddle to an inoperative position, means for rotating the saddle from an initial position past said tool for cutting a bevel on said plate when the tool is in its operative position and for returning the saddle to said initial position, and interlocking means between said means for moving said saddle and said means for moving said tool for retaining the tool in said inoperative position while said saddle is being returned to its initial position.

8. Apparatus for beveling printing plates comprising a bed member, and at least partially cylindrical saddle mounted on said bed member for rotation about its axis, means to mount a printing plate on said saddle, a car riage mounted on said bed member for movement therealong parallel with the axis of the saddle, a poweractuated beveling tool mounted on said carriage, means for moving said carriage along said bed member to bevel one edge of said printing plate, means for rotating said saddle to position another edge of said printing plate adjacent to said carriage, said means for moving said carriage being operable for moving said tool along said another edge to bevel it, said tool having edges inclined relative to said plate to form oppositely and substantially equally inclined bevels at opposite edges of said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 516,686 Branstetter Mar. 13, 1894 1,098,177 Seidel May 26, 1914 2,085,908 Huck July 6, 1937 2,207,993 Tornberg July 16, 1940 

